Fitting Horses for Show and Sale 357 



that the colts be foaled early, as they will have more 

 size, and therefore a better chance for wiiniing. 



COMMON TROUBLES 



In the show circuit bruises will cause as much trouble 

 as any other ailment. These will be caused by the 

 horses being in strange quarters and kicking one another, 

 or from the injuries received in the car. This necessitates 

 that the animals be handled with the utmost care. They 

 cannot be run loose in a car like market horses and be 

 expected to win prizes at the larger shows. For common 

 bruises, hot applications, together with pressure bandages 

 closely applied, are successful in removing the swelling. 



Filled joints and stocked legs are also common. Usually 

 these come from lack of exercise and the best cure is 

 preventative. Usually when a large number of horses 

 are on the show ground, it is difficult to get the men to 

 exercise them properly, and the horse that is accustomed 

 to four or five miles a day will usually fill up in the legs 

 unless they are walked out. If exercise will not remove 

 the filling, they should be rubbed with the hands so that 

 the blood circulation is increased. Applications of warm 

 water and bandages will help. Some horse-men find a 

 rather strong solution of salt water mixed with vinegar 

 useful for this purpose. 



Horses that are fed highly very often itch, and thus 

 cause trouble for the show^-man. This is often caused by 

 the feed not being cooling in its general nature, and if 

 such is the case, a more laxative feed in the nature of 

 bran should be used in connection with a reduction of the 

 highly carbohydrate feeds. Very often a thorough wash- 

 ing of the affected parts with tar soap followed by 



